Spirituality strikes out

Two controlled trials of the effect of spirituality on addiction recovery showed no improvement for the patients given spiritual guidance as part of the usual treatment regimen, either in their addiction recovery or in their spiritual practices.  In fact, in one trial, the patients provided with spiritual guidance made less progress in overcoming depression and anxiety than the patients not given spiritual treatment.

Details are in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, July 25 2008.  The abstract is here.  Thanks to David Kaiser Ph.D. for flagging the item.